Emergency Lights

[FrancisDoody]

While reviewing the plans for a restaurant with the building inspector he stated that we wanted a single DC weather-proof light placed above each exit door on the exterior wall. He said this shall be tied into the emergeny lighting circuit which will be a dedicated 20 amp circuit.

Now I have the combo units to go inside each door. I also have the weather proof DC light for the exterior. Tha comb unit does not have an add-on clip to power the 12 volt exterior light.

Does anyone know of a remote battary pack that I could tie into the 110 volt circuit that would power my exterior light. I quess I could just cut and tap the combo unit to power the outside lamp at each door. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Fran

 

[augie47]

outside emergency

outside emergency

see it every week.....most emerg. light mfgs have a "kit" providing an outdoor fixture which "taps" to their interior unit.

 

[mdshunk]

Does anyone know of a remote battary pack that I could tie into the 110 volt circuit that would power my exterior light.

Yes. Just order an emergency light unit that is specified with "no heads", and you basically get a battery pack and charging board inside a box. THe units I buy are cheaper to get the one's with two heads, and just take the heads off and throw them out. The units come with little fillers for the holes where you removed the heads.

I'll certainly admit that I've tapped into combo units already for an extra head when they weren't designed that way, but only after calculations to make sure it would light everything up for 1-1/2 hours.

 

[peter d]

While reviewing the plans for a restaurant with the building inspector he stated that we wanted a single DC weather-proof light placed above each exit door on the exterior wall. He said this shall be tied into the emergeny lighting circuit which will be a dedicated 20 amp circuit.

Did he base this off a written code, or just what he "wanted?" I'm curious because I often see this required but I don't know what code it comes from, if one even exists.

 

[mdshunk]

Did he base this off a written code, or just what he "wanted?" I'm curious because I often see this required but I don't know what code it comes from, if one even exists.

From the IBC.

1006.3 Illumination emergency power. The power supply for
means of egress illumination shall normally be provided by the
premise’s electrical supply.
In the event of power supply failure, an emergency electrical
system shall automatically illuminate the following areas:
1. Exit access corridors, passageways and aisles in rooms
and spaces which require two or more means of egress.
2. Exit access corridors and exit stairways located in buildings
required to have two or more exits.
3. Exterior egress components at other than the level of exit
discharge until exit discharge is accomplished for buildings
required to have two or more exits.
4. Interior exit discharge elements, as permitted in Section
1023.1, in buildings required to have two or more exits.
5. The portion of the exterior exit discharge immediately
adjacent to exit discharge doorways in buildings required
to have two or more exits.

 

[FrancisDoody]

Peter, He said that this will be in the 2008 code book. That he wanted it to be part of the installation. By the way the fire department was there to inspect the mineral wool being installed into every crack and crevass. Plus it was listed on the approved plans.

I saw it as no big deal. As they say, there maybe bigger fish to fry tomorrow so let this one slide by today.

Thanks,
Fran

 

[peter d]

Peter, He said that this will be in the 2008 code book.

Did he mean the NEC? The NEC doesn't cover the locations of emergency lighting. It's in the IBC as Marc mentioned, and also the NFPA Life Safety Code, IIRC.

 

[benaround]

What I'm seeing now is doors that had outside lights for use all the time, are

now just getting the EM fixture !! If you need light for EM exits than you also

need it for the rest of the time. Personally, I like the outdoor flouresent with

built in back-up.

 

[raider1]

Also keep in mind that emergency lighting, that is fed with unit equipment, must have the unit equipment fed with the same branch circuit that feeds the normal light in the area. (See 700.12(F)) So basically if the emergency light is serving the area outside the exit door the unit equipment must be fed from the same circuit that feeds the normal lighting outside the exit door.

Chris

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Yes. Just order an emergency light unit that is specified with "no heads", and you basically get a battery pack and charging board inside a box. THe units I buy are cheaper to get the one's with two heads, and just take the heads off and throw them out. The units come with little fillers for the holes where you removed the heads.

I'll certainly admit that I've tapped into combo units already for an extra head when they weren't designed that way, but only after calculations to make sure it would light everything up for 1-1/2 hours.

I am curious how you figured out the unit could hold more of a load than originally designed for?

listing and labeling for additional heads field added???

 

[mdshunk]

I am curious how you figured out the unit could hold more of a load than originally designed for?

With a calculator. At least once, I did the math long hand on a piece of cardboard.